When to go · Botswana
Botswana in March
Mixed month. Rains ease late; last month of green-season rates.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Botswana
- Prices
- Low
- Botswana
Verdict
Rains ease late; last month of green-season rates.
Is another month better than March?
March is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in March
- Okavango Delta and Moremi · Maun, Delta camps, Khwairainy
The flood from Angola arrives about May and peaks June–August, during the dry season. October is very hot and dry, with game at the water. Green season Dec–Mar brings storms and birds.
- Chobe and Linyanti · Kasane, Savuti, Linyantirainy
Chobe riverfront elephant herds peak Aug–Oct. Savuti's zebra migration passes in Nov–Dec and Mar–Apr.
- Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan · Gweta, Nata, Nxai Panbest weather
Zebra and wildebeest migration on the pans in the rains (Dec–Mar); quad-bike and meerkat trips in the dry season.
- Central Kalahari · CKGR, Deception Valleybest weather
Best in the rains when antelope and predators gather on the green pans; very hot and dry in Oct–Nov.
- South-east · Gaborone, Tuli Blockfine
Most of the population; Tuli is a quiet dry-season reserve on the Limpopo.
- Kalahari: Kalahari (Ghanzi, Tsabong, CKGR) · Western and central Botswanahot
Cool, dry winter (May–Aug) brings cold nights near 0 °C (32 °F) and clear game-viewing days; the green season (Jan–Apr) is hot with afternoon storms and the best Central Kalahari game viewing.Cool, dry winter (May–Aug) brings cold nights near 32 °F (0 °C) and clear game-viewing days; the green season (Jan–Apr) is hot with afternoon storms and the best Central Kalahari game viewing.
- Okavango-Chobe: Okavango Delta and Moremi · Northwest, around Maunfine
Flood peaks June–August when the Delta is fullest; rains December–February bring green grass and calving herds.
- Okavango-Chobe: Chobe and Kasane · Northeast, along the Chobe Riverfine
Dry season June–October concentrates elephants on the river; October is hot before the rains.
- Southeast Botswana: Gaborone and the southeast · Hardveld plateau, about 1,000 mfine
Rain falls mainly in the summer months (Dec–Mar), often as afternoon storms; winter (May–Sep) is dry with cold nights — exact temperatures check. Oct–Nov is hot and dry before the rains.
- Maun32 °C (90 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 5 rain days
- Francistown31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
- Gaborone30.8 °C (87 °F) / 17.4 °C (63 °F), 6 rain days87 °F (30.8 °C) / 63 °F (17.4 °C), 6 rain days
- Ghanzi31 °C (88 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
- Gweta30 °C (86 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 4 rain days
- Kanye28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
- Kasane31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
- Mochudi28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 10 rain days
- Nata31 °C (88 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
- Tsabong30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 4 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 4 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday)
Mar–Apr (moves yearly — check)
Regional visitors; campsites busy.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Botswana
- Low
- Prices · Botswana
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Botswana, side by side.
Verdict
Mar: Mixed
Jun: Great (better)
Crowds
Mar: Low
Jun: High
Prices
Mar: Low
Jun: High
Festivals listed
Mar: 1
Jun: 2
March: Rains ease late; last month of green-season rates.
June: Peak flood and mokoro season; cold nights (pack warm layers).
Botswana: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
Where to go in March
Rated best or good this month
Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan
Best weather of the year (Gweta, Nata, Nxai Pan)
Central Kalahari
Best weather of the year (CKGR, Deception Valley)